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Breast Milk Storage Guidelines – Tips and More!

If you haven’t ever cried over spilled milk, then you are probably not a pumping mom…

There is a reason breast milk is often referred to as, “Liquid Gold.” It takes hard work, sweat, and tears to build a breastmilk stash. It is NOT easy!

So once you start building up those ounces, what do you do with them?

How long is breast milk good in the refrigerator? How long can you keep it at room temperature?

How long is it good in the freezer? Can breast milk be reused?

These are common questions asked by many breastfeeding and pumping moms.

Well, here at The Pumping Mommy, we have you covered! Here are the answers to those questions and more!

Breast Milk Storage Guidelines – Tips and More!

Breast Milk Freezer and Refrigerator Storage

**NOTE: Please consult with your Doctor regarding storage guidelines if your baby was premature as those guidelines can differ or if your baby has any special health needs. These guidelines are to be applied to a healthy, full-term baby.**

Freshly Expressed Breast Milk –

Room Temperature – Discard after 4-6 hours

Cooler with Ice Packs – Discard after 24 hours

Refrigerated Breast Milk –

Freshly Expressed Milk – discard after 3-8 days (ideally, 3 days. This will depend on the temperature)

Thawed Frozen Milk – discard after 24 hours

Frozen Breast Milk –

Standard refrigerator attached freezer – discard after 6 months

Deep- freeze, stand-alone freezer – discard after 12 months

8 Breast Milk Storage Tips

1 – Avoid Waste

2 – Use an Ice Cube Tray

Many companies make breast milk storage bags, but you can also freeze in an ice cube tray.

Each cube should be about 1 ounce for a standard ice cube tray. Just ensure it is sterilized and properly covered while freezing. Then pop the frozen breast milk cubes into a freezer zip lock bag. (This tip can be applied to freezing homemade baby food too!)

Or try Milkies Trays! If you use standard neck size bottles (not wide neck), then an ice cube won’t fit. Milkies Trays are the perfect size for all bottles! The freeze the milk in a long stick shape. Perfect for slipping into a bottle!

Milkies Milk Trays

3 – Leave Room at the Top

If you use the breast milk storage bags, leave some room at the top as frozen milk will expand and you don’t want your bag to tear!

(It’s good practice to look at a bag first too before thawing to make sure there are no holes or your milk will leak out as it thaws!)

It is best to store in smaller quantities like 4 ounces each bag. Do not store more than your baby will eat in one feeding. Once you thaw/heat the milk, you cannot restore it. You must discard any milk your baby does not take.

4 – Store Milk in the Back

Always store breast milk at the BACK of the refrigerator or freezer to ensure limited change in temperature when you open and close the doors.

5 – Keep it in Order

It is important to follow the guidelines for breast milk storage, so make sure to date each bag or bottle of milk so you know when it will expire.

It helps to have a storage bin in the freezer or refrigerator to keep the milk in order so you can always be sure you use the oldest milk first when feeding your baby.

A cheap and simple solution is a tray like the First Years Storage Tray. It fits perfectly in your freezer or refrigerator. (Make sure you freeze you bags laying flat, however. Don’t freeze them in the storage container)

First Years Milk Storage Tray

6 – Do NOT add Warm Milk to Cooled Milk

Do not add warm milk to cold milk! Cool the milk first before adding to already cold milk.

You can combine milk from various days (as long as it’s not expired) but you need to use the date of the oldest milk as the expiration date.

7 – Swirl, Don’t Shake

Note that stored breast milk will separate into layers.

The “cream” rises to the top while the bottom looks more watery. Expressed breast milk will also vary in color, smell, and consistency, so do not be alarmed.

Make sure you swirl the breastmilk to “mix” it. Do not shake it.

8 – Rule for Offering Milk Twice:

If baby does not finish an entire bottle, studies show it is probably safe to refrigerate for 1-2 hours before offering it again or discarding it.

But there are factors that should be considered such as if baby sick (more bacteria will be introduced to remaining milk) or how long the milk was out, to begin with, etc.

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